Mount Vernon, Square No Longer

By
washingtonpost.com

If you're looking for the next big nightlife neighborhood, head for Penn Quarter -- and keep going north. The area around Mount Vernon Square and the Washington Convention Center is already home to the neo-soul spot Juste Lounge and the alternative arts complex Warehouse Theater, which includes a gallery and the rock club Warehouse Next Door. On their heels, more new venues will move in over the next few months.

Along with the previously blog-discussed Vegetate, slated to open in May on Ninth Street NW, two more options are on the way.

First up is Avenue, a three-story nightclub and lounge opening around the corner from the Convention Center on (surprise) New York Avenue. Avenue will open in early April, says promoter Howard Kitrosser, who was a driving force behind Live on Penn, Air and the old Eleventh Hour and is currently part of the young professionals organization Things to Do DC.

Later this summer, an Old Dominion Brewing Company pub and restaurant is slated to open in the Convention Center itself. Old Dominion's Terry Fife says the 6,000-square-foot space will offer 32 taps of Old Dominion beers, from its popular namesake house brands to special brews like Tuppers Hop Pocket, Victory Amber Lager and Sweetwater.Pale Ale, as well as a full kitchen.

For legal reasons, though, Ashburn-based Old Dominion isn't allowed to own the pub. Instead, it has licensed the name and the beers to Haney Chen, currently in charge of the Samuel Adams Brew House at Dulles Airport. Chen expects the new bar will be ready in July, and it may have pool tables and darts in addition to an outdoor dining area.